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Conversation 045-119

TapeTape 45StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 7:19 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 7:22 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rogers, William P.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discuss how incoming Attorney General Elliot Richardson should respond to Senate pressure regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor for the Watergate investigation. Rogers advises that Richardson should proactively propose consulting with congressional leaders rather than appearing forced by a Senate resolution, a strategy intended to defend Richardson's integrity. Nixon agrees with this approach, noting that the pressure from figures like Senator Charles Percy unfairly undermines the new Attorney General's credibility.

WatergateElliot L. RichardsonSpecial ProsecutorU.S. SenateCharles H. PercyExecutive Branch Integrity
AudioNARA Description

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 7:19 pm to 7:22 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-119 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 45-119

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: 7:19 pm - 7:22 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William P. Rogers.

[See also Conversation No. 433-59]

     Watergate
          -Special Prosecutor
               -Sense of the Senate resolution
               -Elliot L. Richardson’s possible statement
               -Effect
                                              -77-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. October-2012)

                                                            Conversation No. 45-119 (cont’d)

                 -Charles H. Percy’s statement
                      -Implication for Richardson
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Yeah.
Yeah, Mr. President.
Oh, Bill, just get your judgment before I give Elliot a call.
You know, with regard to this sort of sense of the Senate resolution about a special prosecutor, I think Elliot should stay one jump ahead of that.
You know, I've told him he could do what he wanted, but after all, he is the prosecutor.
He is it himself.
he should simply say that he plans to once the grand jury finishes, or what's your advice that I tell him or I want to tell him?
Well, I think maybe what he ought to do, what he should do is to say that maybe they'll consult with the congressional leaders about that, to get their
I suggest we shouldn't rush into that because basically, you know, we know the problem of the special prosecutor.
It isn't a question of trying to get justice done.
It's a question of delaying it.
Not only that, but, you know, he's 100% honest and he should not be sort of taken out of the picture as if he's a man of no integrity.
But I think that what he could say is it's a difficult problem to respond to the
to the public interest in having impartial prosecutor just as you do.
Sure.
And he wants to consult with the leaders of the Congress.
Right.
See if they have any suggestions and try to work it out sensibly for the interest of the country.
Fine.
Good.
I think that's the way to do it.
God damn, I must, I sure agree with you on that.
You know, Percy.
Well, I went too far.
I went beyond the pale.
Yeah, I mean, if he had made it as a suggestion or something.
That's right.
But it just makes it sound as if Elliot Richardson is not a man of integrity and stature, my guy.
Well, it attacks the new attorney general.
Of course.
That's why the hell we appointed him, Bill.
That's right.
All right.
Well, we'll not worry about it.
Just one round in the battle.
Good.
That's right.
Okay.
Thanks, Mr.
Prince.
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